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How to Fix Microsoft Project Task Bars Not Splitting Around Holidays

Elise Williams Sep 30, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is trying to make Microsoft Project task bars split automatically around holidays or nonworking dates, but the bars continue straight through, and manual splits cause incorrect schedule dates.

How to Fix Microsoft Project Task Bars Not Splitting Around Holidays

Product: Microsoft Project
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Adding bank holidays or nonworking periods to a project schedule and expecting the Gantt chart to visually reflect the break in work.
Observed behavior: Task bars do not split visually around calendar exceptions. Manually splitting tasks changes the return-to-work dates incorrectly.

Before you start

Ensure you have correctly defined your calendar exceptions (like bank holidays or shutdowns) in your project calendar before attempting to adjust task bar visibility.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Timescale Settings to Hide Gantt Bars During Nonworking Periods

Calendar exceptions do not create actual task splits. Instead, format the Timescale to visually hide bars during nonworking time to prevent manual scheduling errors.

A task split represents an intentional break in activity unrelated to the project calendar. Holidays are calendar exceptions, not task splits, so Project draws the bar through them by default. You can change this visual behavior in the settings without affecting your schedule's logic.

Open Timescale Settings

Right-click on the Gantt chart timescale area (the dates at the top of the chart) and select 'Timescale' from the context menu.

Navigate to Non-working Time

In the Timescale dialog box, click on the 'Non-working time' tab to access calendar display options.

Configure Gantt Bar Display

Under the formatting options, choose to draw non-working time 'In front of task bars'. This visually obscures the task bar during holidays, making it look like a split without manually altering the task's schedule data.

Use Timescale Settings to Hide Gantt Bars During Nonworking Periods

Avoid Manual Splits for Holidays: Do not use the manual 'Split Task' tool for holidays. Doing so alters the task's actual scheduling logic and can shift your expected return-to-work dates unexpectedly.

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Manage Your Project Timelines Easily with WPS Office

While Microsoft Project handles complex scheduling, you can easily track project timelines, tasks, and holidays using free Gantt chart templates in WPS Spreadsheet. WPS Office is a lightweight, free alternative that seamlessly supports Microsoft formats.

1. Download and Install WPS Office: Get the free WPS Office suite from the official website and install it on your computer.
2. Open WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open a new Spreadsheet to start planning your project.
3. Use a Gantt Chart Template: Search for 'Project Management' or 'Gantt Chart' in the built-in template library to instantly create a visual project timeline.

Track project tasks and holidays using free Gantt chart templates in WPS Spreadsheet.Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) and Word (.docx) formats.Lightweight software that runs smoothly on Windows, Mac, and Linux.Familiar tabbed interface makes it easy to switch from Microsoft Office.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my return-to-work date change when I manually split a task?

Manually splitting a task inserts an absolute break in the work schedule, which overrides the standard calendar calculations. This forces Microsoft Project to recalculate the remaining duration, often pushing the return-to-work date further out.

How do I add a holiday exception to my Microsoft Project calendar?

Go to the 'Project' tab, click 'Change Working Time', select your active calendar, and use the 'Exceptions' tab to enter the name and exact date range of the holiday or shutdown.

Can I make task bars physically split for holidays instead of just hiding them?

No, Microsoft Project treats holidays as non-working time, not as task splits. To achieve the visual effect of a break in the Gantt chart without altering project data, you must format the non-working time to draw over the task bars.

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